Echo Audiofire 2

The Echo Audio Fire 2 is a very tiny device that can be used almost anywhere in any situation. This type of interface is always good to have around, they are very cheap and sound good in most situations with low latency and sync with any computer and work with any program and daw. I have one of these and I keep it around as a back up and when I go out of my home and still want to record. It is truly an on the go type of interface.


UTILIZATION

This interface is only about 5 inches wide and 4 deep at the most. It can pretty much fit in the palm of your hand so it can be put into your pocket or any carry bag that you need to have it in if you are on the go. I have seem several DJ’s use the Echo Audio fire 2 because they are very mobile and from time to time they need an interface that they can do some mixing with on the computer and still track in there vocal audio. When using this I have noticed a lag though, but the lag varies depending on your machine and operating system.


GETTING STARTED

It is compatible on windows xp, vista and windows 7 32 or 64 bit as long as you have at least 256 ram available and a fire wire port. When on a mac you need to have 10.4 operating system or later and at least a G4 processor. On both systems you need to have a 400 mega bytes per second fire wire port.


OVERALL OPINION

Very small interface, with a little latency, but its still very affordable and powerful. I will keep mine as a back up device for on the road. I love this pocket sized interface that I can use anywhere. You have to try it.

2 balanced inputs, 2 balanced outputs, input midi output, spdif input and a headphone jack with an adjustment knob. Cumbersome and not the top.

It works by firewire, it is not too trendy, but it is still on a lot of high-end mobile. And pci rule concern on a tower.

No preamp, and for the price, I prefer. Like that you put what you want to. Those of my Presonus Audiobox are not preventable and it is one of the things that annoys me often (console output, etc ...)

The feature that made me buy this card is that it is famous for its converters, and as I loved my Indigo I / O, I find the same kind of sound. On the other hand, sound cards and firewire pci Echo are supported under Linux in general and Ubuntu in particular so on.

UTILIZATION

I have not tested on Win or Mac, actually. But under Ubuntu, it installs FFADO, plug it configures and starts jackd. And that's all.

In ffado-mixer there any settings for the interface, and the ability to save as needed. This allows a lot of routing in case of need.

If it works with 50ms latency and no problem, it will install a kernel for Ubuntu-lowlatency if you need less. And there it is possible to work without problems with periods of 128 or 64. So no problem within 5ms. Perfect for monitoring via software, or to use a pad noon. Do not hesitate to contact me if needed.

GETTING STARTED

Nothing special to say if we have music under Ubuntu. I also know that it runs perfectly under Windows as well.

No need to manual so it's simple.

OVERALL OPINION

I've had a few days.

I also have a Presonus Audiobox usb, and I had spent the Echo Indigo I / O that I found the sound better, and RME Multiface I regret the sale, but was more cumbersome and less practical (and specific maps for mobile tower, etc ...)

Comparison with the Presonus is clear: the latter converters are flattering while those of the Echo Audiofire 2 are clear and precise.

Compared to the RME, I would say the bass seem a bit less pêchus, but in fact, it will be going very well: it breathes much and when you do a few hours of listening we found it .

The pre-amp headphones is also very good, it has its own flag in the output routing if desired. Compared to the Presonus which is powered by the usb was naturally much gain and dynamic, especially with a "big" type headphones Beyerdynamic 770 (250 Ohm). Compared to the RME card, same remark as before, the sound is clearer and therefore more enjoyable for prolonged listening.

This is not a card recommend to fans of electro and hip hop that will require more impactful bass, although it must be corrected with an equalizer. In contrast to the pop, acoustic, classical, or for stereo miking (concerts, choirs, etc. ...) it is very well. That's why I had the Indigo I / O before, and I found it good quality too.

And so I can choose what I put pre-amp before, if needed.

I was looking for a card easily portable with good converters in order to make a few singles, mix MP3 (so you had a headphone jack and separate routable), and use real-time effects for my guitar and a microphone.

UTILIZATION

First day, I install, I connect, it works on the second attempt in 5 minutes, nickel, top quality ... J'éteinds the computer, the next day I turn back and there ... Card not detected. Reinstalling drivers, multiple tests, nothing. Let me state in all modesty that I am computer technician, a former vendor of such products ... After a long search on the site of Echo, I came across this page:

http://www.echoaudio.com/Support/PC/AMD.php

I quote:

"AMD Athlon processors work well with Echo Digital Audio hardware. You Will need a motherboard with one of the Following chipsets"

Below is a list of a dozen chipsets (while there may be 50). Other than that, Echo says its products work well with chipsets for AMD cpu ....

Further, it states: "MSI (Micro Star International) and ABIT boards not work well May, and are not recommended at this time."

Guess what ... I have an Abit motherboard with an nForce2 chipset ... I do not want the dealer who is a friend and was such a salesman I know stuff that you can not know all the intricacies of compatibility on all the cards on sale. Echo should be indicated on the box or the manual.

I tested the card on a laptop, it works well and has a very good sound out of this problem of compatibility.

GETTING STARTED

The drivers appear to be stable. I recently so I can not say for the frequency of update.
I use Nuendo, and Traktor PlogueBidule to use VST effects in a simple and fast. Was very low latency (<10ms) during the first use on my machine (it has more then market, see paragraph above).
Failed to operate the monitoring of Traktor to send a single track on the headphones ...

OVERALL OPINION

Good quality / price ratio, exemplary finish, great converters, low latency ... It could be a very good card if it was not risky these compatibility issues. Even if it works on your PC, there is much to be disgusted by the day or you'll make a recording or a mix of evening and the card does not work on the computer now ... Big red card on it.

Indeed it heats a lot, now is it the sign of a good heat conduction through the aluminum case or a sign of poor design, hard to say.

I wanted a simple map trs but can all do to make the computer music with a laptop. I have a Dell Inspiron 6400 (Centrino Core2 Duo T5500, 1Mega of ram).
Usage: register a Repette run loops, get the ides.
I use it with 2 preamps TLAUDIO 5051 and two Neumann TLM 103, Wave Lab, GigaStudio, Cubase and a Korg D1000 DtDs.
Nothing to say here, I / O 96Khz stereo audio, ASIO2 Midi, GSIF for GS3, headphone output and I / O spdif .... is complete and compact.
In theory that is a pearl

UTILIZATION

Installation is quick, setup seems easy, the manual ... I admit I 've ever opened a textbook in my life, it is beautiful on CDrom ... crap, I will open it even less.

Implementation: NUL! I have this card because an other person does not russian run on a Fujitsu laptop. And this time it does not work the first shot either at home, it is necessary to update the drivers ... same, the card works on a two stroke, it patina serious when we move from what is 96Khz 44.1Khz Gnant to mastering.
She screwed up some recording 96Khz (Click audio, jumps), I took him by repeating and bache read it on a loop in the middle of the reboot 44Khz.Alors rpeter afternoon, the recess. ECHO .. thank you!

Otherwise when she walks it's good quality but will reboot in some rebootter ... I do not know if that is the driver, or FireWire or the OS (WIN LSD3, 5 for me) but there is one thing that stuck besides routing the audio console is incomprhensible and useless (it must go into conf panel to affect the headphone output for example).

Sorry but I put a ZERO point until I understand what has my mistake (if that is I who made the error).

GETTING STARTED

They are stable in zero (lol!) j'epre and they will be put quickly update
I use WaveLab CubaseSX3, Gigastudio3 hair that turns on a PIII with a SoundBlaster drivers and ASIO4ALL (GS3 hand of course)
Ct latency, it's going to 2ms to 50ms but the audio plays aparaissent 10ms in 96KHZ.
Conclusion when it decided to walk, the sound is good.

OVERALL OPINION

I have been prt for 15 days, it is convenient and has good size to go with a Notebook PC (external power supply fits easily in the saccoche)
However, I have seen sound cards work much better the first and even when I'm not new to the Contents (ATARI, Maxi64, Guillemot ISIS, SoundBlaster, luna2, MOTU MK2, Tascam FW1884).
Whereas if I'm a ball and the card works well when a 200 that is a good quality price, but if like me you put in a 200 Roros Bouzin that you Bouzille an APRS PM to work ... that is the scam of the year, the rescue Julien Courbet!

I am looking for a sound card that will make you forget, I do not think I bought a AUDIOFIRE2 of ECHO sitt. I prefer to put more money and have a card "that makes" ... Unless I change my opinion, After all, it is well known but there is that the sausages that do not change.

Ah, and then I forgot: it heats (with external power supply, I can not understand or when that is the nice box that serves as aluminuium radiator)